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'brother) the Lords Drumlangerk, young Laughenwar, and
others, with their garrison lying at Loughmaben, and the
countrymen thereabouts, to the numbers of 1000 men or
thereupon, assembled themselves, and came to a place called
Tordofe, in Scotland, near to the water bank which divideth
the realms over against the Lordship of Burgh; and being
there, sent 100 light horsemen, in the day breaking, to a
town called Glassen, upon the water bank in England and laid
the rest in ambush at the said Tordofe; and the country,
being in good watch, escried and encountered their horsemen,
where was a sharp skirmish. They have slain one Wattie Bell
servant to John Maxwell, two or three of their geldings, and
taken one notable borderer: And (thanks be to God) no damage
done to any Englishman, town or good, except a gelding slain
under a servant of mine, &c. - The rest so tedious of
compliments, that a good General would as soon take a town
as write one of these complimentary letters; this, however,
put a stop to the proceedings of the Scots for a time.
In the year 1547, the Lord Wharton being removed from his
post of Lord Warden, and the Lord William Dacre appointed to
succeed him, I shall transcribe a letter † of his to
the Duke of Somerset, then Lord Protector of England, under
King Edward the VI. dated at Carlisle the 8th October 1549.
To the Right Honourable my Lord Protector's Grace; in
haste, haste, post haste, for thy life, for thy life, haste,
haste ‡.
'Please it your Grace, to receive here inclosed, such news
and intelligence as this day I received forth of Scotland,
from a spial of mine who was in Edinburgh on Friday last;
and I have made him repair thither again, and bring me
further words of their enterprize, as soon as he can surely
perceive where they intend the same. And whereas I lately
advertised your Grace of the decay of the walls of the city
of Carlisle, yesterday fourteen yards of the city wall on
the side towards Scotland, by reason that it stood on a
spring, the weather being wet, and the wall old in ruin, did
shoot and fall to the ground, the one side from the other,
and divers parts of the wall is like to do the same, which
cannot be repaired and made up this winter, &c.' - the
rest not entertaining.
'(Signed) WILLIAM DACRE.'
The next is my countryman's letter, one of Lord Dacre's
spials, inclosed in the former to the Duke of Somerset.
'HONERABLE SIR,
'EFTER right hertie commendations, please it your worshipe
to wit, I was in Edynburghe this last Friday the fourte of
Octobre; and for tidings, thar is an galyon cumyt owt of
Fraunce and twa ships with mekle money, whilk causes this
army to ryse of Scotland, and charged all manner of men to
be in arediness on 24 houres warninge, and the Erle of
Huntley and the Erle of Argylle hais promisd to bring fyve
thousand ma men nor ever faders dyd. And therle of Angwish
getts Arboth againe to take the lieutenantship upon him. As
I am advertised ther is writting comeyt to the Quene and the
govnor, owt of Fraunce, that ther shall cum within 15 days
10 thousand men of war. Ther is an advertisement cumyt that
an host will be in at this border in this light. And please
your worship that I and the gentlemanne mak yow further
service. Advertise us with this bearer whilk shall let for
no expences or travaile when time cumys, and the gentlemanne
and I be syker where we ryde or gang, goods and servands,
and I pray your worship's answer of these premisses; for I
purposed to have cumyt to yow and durst not for fear of my
life. And as ye wold have me do ande in all things,
advertise with this berer, which shal be at power God
willande, wha everlasting have your worship in keaping. By
your Servant, Ye wait wha.'
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